Viet Nam sets up 5th HIV testing center
Ha Noi, Feb. 11 (VNA)-- Ha Noi has become the fifth to set up a voluntary HIV consultation and testing centre, which is expected to expand to 35 other cities and provinces nationwide.
The centre is capable of servicing 100 people a day and fully meet their needs for consultation on prevention and treatment as well as blood tests, said the centre director.
Such centres have been previously founded in the northern border and tourist-boom province of Quang Ninh, the nearby port city of Hai Phong, the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, and the southwestern province of Kien Giang.
In addition to such services, a network of centres to provide homes and medical treatment to HIV-infected children and single HIV carriers who feel isolated has kicked off.
Ho Chi Minh City, for example, has boasted such two centres. One is in the suburban district of Cu Chi caring for lonely fully-developed AIDS patients and the other in the suburban district of Thu Duc for HIV-infected orphans. The former has given a helping hand to hundreds of AIDS patients over the past two years while the latter, with a design capacity of housing 150 child patients, has just been put into operation. The centre will provide blood tests, medical treatment, nurturing, health care, education and help for HIV-infected orphans to reintegrate into the community. It will also expand consultation and support to families of HIV child patients so they can receive better care, thus leaving no infected children uncared for.
Ha Noi is working on a project to build a centre for helpless AIDS patients.
This year, the Ministry of Health has set a target of providing treatment for all mothers and new-borns tested HIV positive, and ensure 70 percent of HIV carriers will have access to medical services and all blood bottles are to be screened. The ministry will also allow medical stations nationwide to use an antibiotic called Lamzidivir produced by the MTS Phamarceutical Factory for treatment of infections at a price seven times lower than imported drugs from this year on.
